THE Wales Office believes it is time for some plain talking on future powers for the National Assembly - up to a point.

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain yesterday insisted a Scottish-style parliament was a "Pandora's Box" he had no intention of opening.

However, Mr Hain and Wales Office Minister Don Touhig were less forthcoming about how far they would be prepared to go in backing additional powers for the Assembly.

Mr Hain insisted he would wait for the Richard Commission's verdict on March 31 before delivering his opinion, while Mr Touhig suggested we would have to wait for his memoirs before knowing his deepest thoughts on devolution.

Nineteen Labour MPs last week insisted any proposal for tax-varying or primary law-making powers should not be sanctioned without a second referendum.

Mr Hain said he was "relaxed" about the letter and spoke freely about his own opposition to the Scottish-model for Wales.

"If they want a referendum on the Scottish model be my guest - just don't ask me to lead it," he said.

Mr Hain said with a different legal system in Scotland, and tax-varying powers having a potential knock-on effect for the block grant, this was a "Pandora's Box" he would not open.

"People respect a straightforward point of view," he added.

Mr Hain, who has also ruled out any reduction in the number of Welsh MPs, said it was "helpful" to draw a line under the issue.

However, on the Northern Ireland Assembly model - which would give Cardiff primary law-making powers but no ability to vary tax - he was more circumspect.

"Below the Scottish model there is a whole menu of options and I am not going to get into a debate about that ahead of Richard," he said.

Wales Office Minister Don Touhig dodged questions on whether he would have signed the MPs' warning shot letter had he been a backbencher, saying only there was a "rainbow" of opinions within the party.

He added, "I cannot speak in hypothetical terms, I am pleased to be a member of this Government. I cannot possibly say what would be in other circumstances; perhaps that is something to speculate about when I retire."

However, Mr Hain insisted delaying a party conference on Lord Richard's report from July to September was not evidence of a growing split within Welsh Labour over the issue but to give people time to consider the recommendations after the European and local elections in June.

"I want people to have plenty of time to discuss this so no-one feels bounced. This is a very important issue around which people have strong feelings."

With a joint working group of MPs and AMs already established, the issue will be raised at Welsh Labour's spring conference later this month but ahead of Lord Richard's findings.

A "scoping document" has been sent out to party members.

Shadow Welsh Secretary Bill Wiggin said Mr Hain was simultaneously trying to preempt the report and shut down discussion ahead of the recommendations.

He added, "What is the point of spending £800,000 of taxpayers money on this report if he has already made up his mind?"